528:
142:
119:
27:
537:
422:
149:
614:). The keep, while currently in ruins, was originally 82 feet (25 m) high and 62 feet (19 m) in diameter with walls which were 15 feet (4.6 m) thick. Thick walls and a powerful gatehouse were later added to the structure and the castle was considered "one of the most important military strongholds in Scotland".
377:, in the mid 12th century. The lands passed to his descendants including his daughter who had married William de Moravia son of William son of Freskin, who was deceased by 1226 circa. Then by 1252 the barony became the property of their son Walter de Moravia, or
350:. Rebuilding in the early 15th century enlarged the castle, but it was abandoned by the 18th century. The present ruin is rectangular, with the remains of the donjon to the west, and the later Great Hall to the east. The courtyard is enclosed by long
409:
holding the castle was besieged by the Scots for 14 months in 1298—1299, and eventually capitulated. Edward I returned in 1301, capturing the castle once more with a force of 6800 men, and specially constructed
1019:
559:, began construction of a new mansion nearby, demolishing the castle's north-east tower for its stone. (His house was demolished in 1926 due to mining subsidence in the area). After the death of the 2nd Earl at
488:, the 4th Earl. By 1424 they had constructed the Great Hall and adjacent chapel, with towers at the north-east and south-east corners, and curtain walls connecting to the donjon, enclosing the courtyard.
385:
in 1296, only the main donjon, the prison tower, and the short connecting curtain wall were completed. Foundations of the remainder were probably in place, and would have been defended by a wooden
464:
the castle once more, pulling down the west side of the donjon and tumbling it into the Clyde, in order that it could not be reoccupied by the enemy. The castle remained derelict until the 1360s.
770:
Rutherford, Allan; Malcolm, John (2011), "'That stalwart toure': Bothwell Castle in the
Thirteenth and Early Fourteenth Centuries", in Audrey Dakin; Miles Glendinning; Aonghus MacKechnie (eds.),
984:
863:
999:
953:
460:, great-nephew of Sir William and the rightful owner of Bothwell, recaptured the stronghold, again using siege engines. Following his victory he
441:, surrendered the castle to the approaching Scots. For this act, he was granted the barony of Cadzow, where his descendants became the powerful
108:
141:
172:
856:
572:
564:
485:
415:
979:
849:
804:
779:
556:
504:
872:
512:
484:. Douglas commenced rebuilding Bothwell, repairing the donjon and completing the walls. The work was continued by his son,
994:
989:
527:
456:. The English king had the castle repaired, and again made it his headquarters in Scotland. The following year, however,
346:
was built in the 13th century, but before the rest of the castle was completed it was severely damaged in a series of
748:
717:
667:
70:
48:
41:
1014:
551:
Bothwell thus reverted to the
Douglases, and descended through the Earls of Angus and Marquesses of Douglas to the
938:
401:
invaded
Scotland at the start of the war, and seized Bothwell. The castle was at this time held by Walter's son,
354:, with round towers at the south-east and south-west corners. The castle was described by Scottish archaeologist
583:, and was open to the public (with admission charge) until the castle was closed in 2020 due to safety issues.
500:
933:
683:
576:
545:
South East Tower seen from inside the roofless Great Hall in the mid-19th century (left) and in 1997 (right).
438:
382:
336:
220:
104:
821:
351:
591:
While the castle was never completed to its original design, its design is similar to the strongholds of
1009:
552:
402:
35:
511:
was created for him. Hepburn did not retain
Bothwell Castle for long, however, exchanging it with
437:
in 1314, the castle provided shelter for several
English nobles. However, the castle's constable,
457:
355:
740:
52:
687:
118:
560:
492:
453:
434:
335:, to guard a strategic crossing point of the Clyde. Bothwell played a key role in Scotland's
1004:
430:
374:
600:
563:
in 1715, the castle reverted to the senior line of the
Douglas family, represented by the
418:, Edward's appointed Warden of Scotland, and remained in English hands for several years.
8:
923:
398:
366:
592:
898:
734:
580:
473:
948:
943:
908:
888:
800:
775:
744:
713:
663:
491:
The "Black" Douglases were forfeited in 1455, and their lands returned to the crown.
312:
288:
96:
958:
826:
596:
516:
508:
477:
928:
903:
481:
378:
234:
913:
841:
331:. Construction of the castle was begun in the 13th century by the ancestors of
836:
973:
893:
568:
496:
442:
370:
238:
187:
174:
358:
as one of the "foremost secular structures of the Middle Ages in
Scotland".
918:
411:
1020:
Sites of
Special Scientific Interest in Clydesdale and South East Glasgow
830:
536:
503:, who were both forfeited in turn. In 1488 Bothwell was granted again to
332:
308:
324:
461:
446:
406:
386:
320:
316:
301:
100:
92:
708:
Cruwys, Elizabeth; Riffenburgh, Beau (1995). Hicks, Penny (ed.).
328:
682:
472:
In 1362, Joan Moray of
Bothwell, heiress of the Morays, married
421:
610:
343:
304:
381:
He began construction of the castle, but by the start of the
347:
662:. Salisbury, Wiltshire: Frith Book Company. pp. 22–23.
604:
519:
in
Liddesdale. James IV visited Bothwell in 1503 and 1504.
712:. Basingstoke, Hampshire: AA Publishing. p. 118.
575:
gave Bothwell into state care. It is now managed by
452:
In 1336 the English returned again, this time under
307:, sited on a high, steep bank, above a bend in the
769:
707:
642:
985:Scheduled Ancient Monuments in South Lanarkshire
971:
871:
567:and his heirs. The castle then descended to the
392:
857:
739:. New York: Charles Scribner's Sons. p.
799:(2009 Revised ed.). Historic Scotland.
653:
651:
327:, about 10 miles (16 km) south-east of
1000:Historic house museums in South Lanarkshire
864:
850:
701:
648:
515:, known as "Bell-the-Cat", in return for
71:Learn how and when to remove this message
797:Bothwell Castle: Official Souvenir Guide
794:
420:
34:This article includes a list of general
476:, nicknamed "the Grim" and later to be
148:
972:
732:
416:Aymer de Valence, 2nd Earl of Pembroke
414:. Bothwell became the headquarters of
845:
657:
557:Archibald Douglas, 1st Earl of Forfar
827:Engraving of Bothwell Castle in 1693
764:The Castles of Glasgow and the Clyde
513:Archibald Douglas, 5th Earl of Angus
20:
13:
789:The Castles of South West Scotland
617:
369:granted the barony of Bothwell to
40:it lacks sufficient corresponding
14:
1031:
814:
837:Video footage of Bothwell Castle
660:Francis Frith's Scottish Castles
535:
526:
505:Patrick Hepburn, 2nd Lord Hailes
449:the castle after its surrender.
339:, changing hands several times.
147:
140:
117:
25:
833:at National Library of Scotland
820:Historic Environment Scotland:
726:
676:
636:
123:South-east tower of the castle
1:
684:Historic Environment Scotland
643:Rutherford & Malcolm 2011
629:
577:Historic Environment Scotland
393:Wars of Scottish Independence
383:Wars of Scottish Independence
221:Historic Environment Scotland
980:Castles in South Lanarkshire
873:Castles in South Lanarkshire
7:
688:"BOTHWELL CASTLE (SM90038)"
16:Medieval castle in Scotland
10:
1036:
995:House of Douglas and Angus
990:Listed castles in Scotland
791:, Folly Publications, 1993
467:
361:
879:
772:Scotland's Castle Culture
710:Explore Britain's Castles
586:
403:William Moray of Bothwell
283:
275:
267:
262:
254:
244:
226:
216:
211:
203:
166:
135:
128:
116:
90:
85:
795:Tabraham, Chris (1994).
319:. It is located between
188:55.8094549°N 4.0950432°W
1015:Bothwell and Uddingston
622:The castle features in
425:Plan of Bothwell Castle
356:William Douglas Simpson
55:more precise citations.
439:Sir Walter FitzGilbert
426:
193:55.8094549; -4.0950432
733:Porter, Jane (1921).
658:Hardy, Chris (2003).
424:
342:The huge cylindrical
130:Shown within Scotland
495:granted Bothwell to
375:Justiciar of Lothian
337:Wars of Independence
924:Gilbertfield Castle
766:, Goblinshead, 2000
736:The Scottish Chiefs
624:The Scottish Chiefs
565:1st Duke of Douglas
509:Earldom of Bothwell
399:Edward I of England
397:The forces of King
184: /
899:Craignethan Castle
603:as it has a round
581:scheduled monument
427:
271:Begun 13th century
230:De Moravia family
227:Controlled by
207:Castle of enceinte
1010:De Moravia family
967:
966:
949:Strathaven Castle
944:Rutherglen Castle
909:Drumsagard Castle
889:Calderwood Castle
806:978-1-84917-021-5
781:978-1-906566-33-3
474:Archibald Douglas
458:Sir Andrew Murray
313:South Lanarkshire
295:
294:
279:Walter de Moravia
97:South Lanarkshire
81:
80:
73:
1027:
959:Tower of Hallbar
866:
859:
852:
843:
842:
810:
784:
755:
754:
730:
724:
723:
705:
699:
698:
696:
694:
680:
674:
673:
655:
646:
640:
539:
530:
517:Hermitage Castle
478:Lord of Galloway
431:Robert the Bruce
212:Site information
199:
198:
196:
195:
194:
189:
185:
182:
181:
180:
177:
151:
150:
144:
121:
112:
111:
83:
82:
76:
69:
65:
62:
56:
51:this article by
42:inline citations
29:
28:
21:
1035:
1034:
1030:
1029:
1028:
1026:
1025:
1024:
970:
969:
968:
963:
929:Kilbride Castle
904:Crawford Castle
884:Bothwell Castle
875:
870:
817:
807:
782:
759:
758:
751:
731:
727:
720:
706:
702:
692:
690:
681:
677:
670:
656:
649:
641:
637:
632:
620:
618:Popular culture
589:
553:Earls of Forfar
549:
548:
547:
546:
542:
541:
540:
532:
531:
501:Sir John Ramsay
482:Earl of Douglas
470:
443:Hamilton family
395:
379:Walter of Moray
364:
298:Bothwell Castle
247:the public
246:
237:
235:Earl of Douglas
233:
231:
192:
190:
186:
183:
178:
175:
173:
171:
170:
162:
161:
160:
159:
158:
157:
156:
155:Bothwell Castle
152:
131:
124:
107:
103:
91:
86:Bothwell Castle
77:
66:
60:
57:
47:Please help to
46:
30:
26:
17:
12:
11:
5:
1033:
1023:
1022:
1017:
1012:
1007:
1002:
997:
992:
987:
982:
965:
964:
962:
961:
956:
954:Tarbrax Castle
951:
946:
941:
936:
931:
926:
921:
916:
914:Douglas Castle
911:
906:
901:
896:
891:
886:
880:
877:
876:
869:
868:
861:
854:
846:
840:
839:
834:
824:
816:
815:External links
813:
812:
811:
805:
792:
785:
780:
767:
762:Mason, Gordon
757:
756:
749:
725:
718:
700:
675:
668:
647:
634:
633:
631:
628:
619:
616:
588:
585:
571:. In 1935 the
544:
543:
534:
533:
525:
524:
523:
522:
521:
499:, and then to
469:
466:
433:'s victory at
405:. The English
394:
391:
373:(or Olifant),
363:
360:
293:
292:
285:
281:
280:
277:
273:
272:
269:
265:
264:
260:
259:
256:
252:
251:
248:
242:
241:
228:
224:
223:
218:
214:
213:
209:
208:
205:
201:
200:
168:
164:
163:
154:
153:
146:
145:
139:
138:
137:
136:
133:
132:
129:
126:
125:
122:
114:
113:
105:grid reference
88:
87:
79:
78:
33:
31:
24:
15:
9:
6:
4:
3:
2:
1032:
1021:
1018:
1016:
1013:
1011:
1008:
1006:
1003:
1001:
998:
996:
993:
991:
988:
986:
983:
981:
978:
977:
975:
960:
957:
955:
952:
950:
947:
945:
942:
940:
937:
935:
932:
930:
927:
925:
922:
920:
917:
915:
912:
910:
907:
905:
902:
900:
897:
895:
894:Cadzow Castle
892:
890:
887:
885:
882:
881:
878:
874:
867:
862:
860:
855:
853:
848:
847:
844:
838:
835:
832:
828:
825:
823:
822:Visitor guide
819:
818:
808:
802:
798:
793:
790:
787:Salter, Mike
786:
783:
777:
773:
768:
765:
761:
760:
752:
750:9780684193403
746:
742:
738:
737:
729:
721:
719:9780749510480
715:
711:
704:
689:
685:
679:
671:
669:9781859373231
665:
661:
654:
652:
645:, p. 189
644:
639:
635:
627:
625:
615:
613:
612:
606:
602:
598:
594:
584:
582:
578:
574:
570:
569:Earls of Home
566:
562:
558:
554:
538:
529:
520:
518:
514:
510:
506:
502:
498:
497:Lord Crichton
494:
489:
487:
483:
479:
475:
465:
463:
459:
455:
450:
448:
444:
440:
436:
432:
423:
419:
417:
413:
412:siege engines
408:
404:
400:
390:
388:
384:
380:
376:
372:
371:David Olifard
368:
359:
357:
353:
352:curtain walls
349:
345:
340:
338:
334:
330:
326:
322:
318:
314:
310:
306:
303:
299:
290:
289:red sandstone
286:
282:
278:
276:Built by
274:
270:
266:
261:
257:
253:
249:
243:
240:
239:Earl of Angus
236:
229:
225:
222:
219:
215:
210:
206:
202:
197:
169:
165:
143:
134:
127:
120:
115:
110:
106:
102:
98:
94:
89:
84:
75:
72:
64:
54:
50:
44:
43:
37:
32:
23:
22:
19:
939:Mains Castle
919:Farme Castle
883:
796:
788:
771:
763:
735:
728:
709:
703:
691:. Retrieved
678:
659:
638:
623:
621:
608:
590:
550:
490:
471:
451:
445:. The Scots
428:
396:
367:King David I
365:
341:
297:
296:
263:Site history
245:Open to
67:
58:
39:
18:
1005:Clan Murray
831:John Slezer
774:, Berlinn,
693:19 February
561:Sheriffmuir
435:Bannockburn
333:Clan Murray
309:River Clyde
300:is a large
191: /
167:Coordinates
53:introducing
974:Categories
934:Lee Castle
630:References
507:, and the
454:Edward III
429:Following
325:Uddingston
176:55°48′34″N
36:references
597:Kildrummy
573:13th Earl
493:James III
486:Archibald
284:Materials
255:Condition
179:4°05′42″W
601:Dirleton
462:slighted
447:slighted
407:garrison
387:palisade
321:Bothwell
317:Scotland
302:medieval
287:Coursed
232:England
109:NS688593
101:Scotland
93:Bothwell
61:May 2014
468:Douglas
362:History
329:Glasgow
49:improve
803:
778:
747:
716:
666:
611:donjon
587:Design
348:sieges
344:donjon
305:castle
291:rubble
258:Ruined
38:, but
593:Coucy
579:as a
268:Built
217:Owner
801:ISBN
776:ISBN
745:ISBN
714:ISBN
695:2019
664:ISBN
605:keep
599:and
480:and
323:and
204:Type
829:by
609:or
311:in
250:Yes
976::
743:.
741:46
686:.
650:^
626:.
595:,
555:.
389:.
315:,
99:,
95:,
865:e
858:t
851:v
809:.
753:.
722:.
697:.
672:.
607:(
74:)
68:(
63:)
59:(
45:.
Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Additional terms may apply.
